Apr

02

"7 new restaurants in Tampa Bay" By Tampa Bay Times

NEW RESTAURANTs: ROUNDUP

Capitalizing on spring breakers and snowbirds, finishing up construction in the good-weather months with little rain and high temps — it makes sense. Spring tends to be an active time for restaurant openings, and this year is no exception. Doors have opened in recent weeks all over Tampa Bay.

Whiskey Joe’s Port Richey debuted on March 6 at 7835 Bayview St. on Port Richey’s famous Cotee River. It’s a sprawling waterfront affair — 66,000 square feet and seating for 500 guests — with a large boat dock and indoor-outdoor seating and a version of Whiskey Joe’s classic Barefoot Tiki Bar. If you’ve been to the Tampa Rocky Point location over the past 35 years, you know the drill: white sand, boat pull-ups, fire pits and laid back atmosphere. The menu is in keeping with that setup, a Floribbean array of gulf grouper tacos, raw oysters, mango-glazed scallops and coconut rum chicken. To wet the proverbial whistle, Whiskey Joe’s features 14 different mojitos, 30 types of margaritas and a slew of local beers on tap. The new location has created more than 130 jobs. whiskeyjoesportrichey.com.